Mail-pouch.



No. 700,844. Patented May 27, I902.

G. F. SNIDEB.

MAIL POUCH. (Application filed May 17. 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES GABRIEL FINANDEZ SNIDER, OF ABINGTON, IOWA.

MAIL-POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,844, dated May 27,

Application filed May 17,1901. Serial No. 60,654. (No model.)

T0 (0Z6 whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, GABRIEL FINANDEZ SNI- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abington, in the county of J eiferson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide 'a mail-pouch of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction, that may be readily and quickly opened and closed, and when in an open position the sides of the top are held separated, so as to readily admit of access to the interior of the pouch.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction of a mail-pouch, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows side elevation of the complete mail-pouch in its lockedposition. Fig. 2 shows top or plan view of the same in an open position. Fig. 3 shows top or plan view in a closed position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference-numeral 10 to indicate the body portion of the mail-pouch. This may be made of leather or other suitable material. It is open at its top and provided with a handle 11 at its lower end. I have provided two side strips and two end strips to surround the top of the mail-pouch. The side strips are indicated by the reference-numeral12 and the end strips by the numeral13, the latter being about one-half of the length of the former. These are all secured by rivets or the like to the edges of the opening in the mail-pouch. These strips are connected with each other bV hinge-joints, and these joints are so arranged that the end strips may not move farther than to a position at right angles to the side strips. I preferably accomplish this result bypro-- viding ordinary strap-hinges 14 at two diametrically opposite corners, and at the remaining corners I provide a hinge, formed by means of a tongue 15, on the end pieces entering between the projections 16 on the adjacent side piece,so that the side piece will engage the portions of the end piece above and below the tongue 15 when the parts 12 and 13 are at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 2. By this means it is obvious .ples on one that when the top of the pouch is open the sides will be held at some distance apart, so that a large opening is provided, and when closed the edges will be held close together, as shown in Fig. 3. On one of the side pieces 12 I have provided a handle 17 and projectin g inwardly through these side pieces 12 are two staples 18. These staples are designed to pass through the opening in the mating side piece when the parts are brought together. These openings are indicated by the reference-numeral 19, and the said staples project inwardly to such an extent that they will pass through and beyond the mating side piece, as shown in Fig. 3. Attached to one of the end pieces 13 is a chain 20, and this chain is connected with a pin 21, having a large flat head 22, provided with an opening 23. This pin is designed to pass through one of the staples 18 and to permit the other staple 18 to pass through the opening 23 in this head. Then the lock 24: may also pass through this staple, and the'said pin thereby is held firmly in position.

In practical use and assuming that it is de sired to open the mail-pouch, the lock is first removed and then the pin withdrawn from the staple. Then the operator grasps the handle 17, and thereby separates the side pieces until the end pieces are at right angles thereto, and when it is desired to close and lock the pouch the side pieces are simply placed together until the staples 18 pass through the openings 19. Then the pin and lock complete the device and it is firmly secured.

Another very material advantage of my invention consists in making the side pieces of the frame substantially twice the length of the end pieces, so that the side pieces will when folded overlap each other for a considerable portion of their length, so that the staside piece may project through the slots on the other side piece, thus materially strengthening. the frame when'fnot in its closedposition; and, further, the frame may be securely locked by simply connecting the two side pieces with each other, 'it being unnecessary to connect the end pieces to the side pieces except at the hinges. In other devices of this class the hinges are in line with each other when folded, thus leaving a very weak point in the frame and making it necessary to provide means for connecting both the when in the locked position.

Having thus I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

The combination with a flexible mail-pouch open at one end, of two rigid side pieces 12, and two rigid end pieces 13, saidside pieces being of a length substantially twice that of the end pieces, and said parts being hinged together to form when open a rectangular figure and being secured to the open top of the pouch, whereby when closed the side pieces will overlap each other fora considerable portion of their length, one of said side side and end pieces with each other described my invention, what pieces having two slots therein, two staples secured to the other side piece to enter and project through said slots when the frame is closed, a pin having a rounded end to pass .through one of the staples and having its other end flattened and slotted to permit the other staple to project through it, a chain for connecting said pin with the frame anda look to pass through the latter staple when the staple has been projected through the slot in the pin for the purposes stated.

E. R. Bns'r, G. A. MowERv. 

